3 held over firearms smuggling

Shah Alam, an accused in the case, of Gopalnagar village in Shibganj upazila, Intaj of Kurshia village in Godagari upazila of Rajshahi and Nahida Khatun of Gopalnagar village were detained, while they were fleeing the country through the border, said TM Mojahidul Islam, district police super, at a press briefing yesterday. Later, Shah Alam and Intaj were placed on a four-day remand and Nahida on a two-day remand, while they were produced before chief judicial magistrate’s court yesterday. Police recovered 22 foreign-made pistols, 45 magazines and 136 rounds bullets from a rented house in Chapainawabganj municipality area while conducting a drive there on October 24. Later, an arms case was filed with the police station in this connection accusing Shah Alam and several other unknown people. The firearms were supposed to be used in subversive activities in Chittagong, said the police. The police super said the arrestees collected the firearms from Telkupi border in Chapainawabganj and kept those in the house rented by Shah Alam. However, the police were trying to nab the person mastermind behind the arms collection, he said.